Cylinder lock



Jan. 7, 1958 M. J. LEVIN 2,818,723

CYLINDER LOCK Filed Dec. 5, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. MORRIS J. LEVI N ATT NEY M. J. LEVIN 2,818,723

CYLINDER LOCK Jan. 7, 1958 Filed Dec. 5, 1952 INVENTOR. MORRIS -J. LEVIN United States Patent CYLINDER LOCK Morris J. Levin, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application December 3, 1952, Serial No. 323,791

3 Claims. (Cl. 70-683) This invention relates to combination locks and it particularly relates to a lock that will automatically adjust itself to an unlimited number of key combinations.

It is often important in the case of safety deposit boxes, automobile ignition systems, railroad station lockers, hotel rooms, and the like, that the lock be of a type which ordinarily requires the use of the same key to unlock it as was used to lock it, and that this key vary from one time of use to the next. Otherwise, it might be possible for one who had obtained possession of one key to open the lock at any time even when it was being used by someone else.

It is a feature of the invention that when a certain type of key is inserted to close the lock it automatically sets up a locking combination which can only be opened by the same key or such other key as permitted by the locking combination set up. This eliminates the necessity of separate combination-determining parts requiring the use of cams, gears, detents, and the like.

One object of my invention, therefore, is to provide a key-actuated combination lock, the combination of which is automatically adjusted by the key used to close the lock.

Another object of my invention is to provide a keyactuated combination lock in which an unlimited number of combinations may be used.

Another object of my invention is to provide a keyactuated combination lock which may be disassociated from any set combination by means of a master key.

Other objects of my invention are to provide an improved device of the character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction, and which is highly eflicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, my invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a front elevation of a lock embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the lock shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view thereof, partly in section and partly in perspective.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 with the key withdrawn therefrom.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 with the key inserted.

Fig. 7 is a view taken on line 77 of Fig. 6 showing the key in the inserting position.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the balls showing their arrangement.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, I show a stationary cylinder A provided with a bore in which is positioned a cylinder B which is also provided with a bore to receive a rotatable core C therein. The cylinder A, as shown in Fig. 5, is provided with a series of bores "ice 10 in each of which is positioned a tumbler 12. Each tumbler 12 is spring-pressed radially inwardly by a spring 14. Each of the bores 10 in the outer stationary cylinder A registers with a bore 16 provided in the stationary inner cylinder B and in each of the bores 16 is provided a locking tumbler 18 upon which the spring-pressed tumblers 12 bear.

As indicated in Figs. 7 and 8, the inner cylinder B is also provided with a second series of bores 20 circumferentially off-set from the bores 16. In each of these bores 20 is provided a tumbler 22 which is pressed radially inward by a spring 24. The tumblers 22 are adapted to bear upon a group of balls 26 which are provided in bores 32 in the core C and which are here illustrated as consisting of six balls arranged in pairs, with the bottom and top pair being arranged parallel to each other and the middle pair being arranged perpendicular to the other two pairs. The ball arrangement is best illustrated in Figs. 4 and 9. The tumblers 34 and balls 26 serve to control the turning combination of the core C with respect to the inner cylinder B. However, this arrangement is not critical and any number and arrangement of balls may be used.

The core C which is positioned within the member B is provided with a key-way 28 which extends through a bolt actuating member 30. The core C is also provided with the aforementioned series of bores 32 which extend into the key-way. In each of these bores 32 is positioned a tumbler 34 above which are provided the balls 26.

When the rotatable core C is in the unlocked position wherein the bores 32 are aligned with the bores 20, if a key 36 is inserted into the key-way 28, it will move each set of the tumblers 22 and 34 with the balls between them into a position determined by the contour of the key as best seen in Figs. 6 and 7. Note the position of the key illustrated in Fig. 6. When the key is, thereafter, turned, it rotates the core C with it and carries along the tumblers 34 and all balls 26 which were positioned Within the bores 32. The key is turned until the bores 32 of the core C are aligned with the bores 16 in the member B. When the core C is in this position, the spring 14 in the bore 16 acts to press the tumbler 18 toward the bore 32 in the core C when the key is withdrawn thereby locking the lock (see Fig. 8).

In order to open the lock, it is necessary to insert the same or a similar key permitted by the combination set up in Fig. 8 into the key-way in order to raise each of the tumblers 18 out of their respective bores 32 and into the bores 16 so that the core may be rotated back to the unlocking position, Fig. 7. When the lock is to be used again, another key may be inserted, and this key, according to its contour, will set up a new combination depending on the number of balls which are moved into the locking position. It is, therefore, seen that any one of a number of diiferent kinds of keys may be used to close the device and that only the same key or similar key permitted by the combination set up will open it. This is of special value in the case of locks such as are installed in public lockers in train stations. In such a case, a person who makes away with one of the keys will not be able to use it to open the locker when someone else is using it and, therefore, many thefts would be prevented.

Although my invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A key-actuated combination lock comprising an outer barrel, a central barrel within said outer barrel and a cylindrical core within said central barrel, a key-way extending the length of said core, a series of bores in i sets s a isnl r s 995. is s flPs said lem ay tumblers adapted slide in said bores, a second series of bores in said central barrel adapted to register With e ba s in said so e a Warbl i sash 129m at sa d e on was said las masses?! tumble s being prin s s i wle d said first tumblers a se 9 ba ls 1 i: qn d b tw en ac 9 the umblers f aid firs seri d}? s i i rsn ins mb srrq sai ss ss r es a hird i o l sb b195 ai ssi st ba r i i m e snt all 9ftset from said second series, a fourth series of bores pros d sa d Pater a r and r g st i with s id thi d iss a n -P s d it b t in r a 9f he .hqres 91 id tq rth s s, ach o sa la men iqn d l m ile s i g r-a ap t b a m a tumbl r i sq resimn in bores 9 sa h d s ri s sa d s be ng adap ed to e ta e rela iv t Said en a a d ute bar els by a y when Said ms an sesqnd se i lq bore a e n t nsen by r q ins tumble s, the e y p r in sai first series of bores and any balls within said first series of 12-9 1 e ase t0 2 P sition re i ter n wit sai thi d series of bores, whereby the tumblers "in said third series of bores are pressed down into 'isaid first series of bores Z- A k qua ed q mb t sq 9 k c m isi an Outer ba r a ce b e nd an nne o e, con entric with ea he a k y-W i sa d s e v nsan i said core adapted to coact with a second means in said nt al ba re is es ab is l e kin pmbina qn b t sai an be n Fl me to be e tw tfi by a k y n e tahle PlQ said a third said sryttal barre coacting' with a fourth means in said outer barrel to lock said combination in position, said first means comprising tumblers slidable in a series of bores, and said second means comprising tumblers slidable in a second series of bores, and a plurality of balls in staggered arrangement between said first and second series of tumblers when their respective bores register."

3. The device of claim; wherein said core is rotatable and said third and fourth rneans are circumferentially spaced from said first'and second means; said third and fourth mean be n a sed toward sa d first iies of ,tumblers when said coreds rotated to a position wherein said first series of" boresregist'ers with 'a" third series of bores occupied by said third and fourth means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

